CVE-2025-6160: Client Database Management System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-6160 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Client Database Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /user_customer_create_order.php file, where the user_id parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in database queries. This flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious input, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive customer data, modify database records, or potentially escalate access to the underlying server through advanced SQL injection techniques.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester Client Database Management System 1.0
• SourceCodester Downloading Client Database Management System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-06-17 - CVE-2025-6160 published to NVD
• 2025-06-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6160

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as SQL Injection (CWE-89) and falls under the broader category of Injection vulnerabilities (CWE-74). The flaw originates from insufficient input validation in the user_customer_create_order.php endpoint. When user-supplied data is passed through the user_id parameter, it is incorporated directly into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that the database engine will execute with the same privileges as the application.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing deployments. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive customer information, modify or delete database records, and potentially execute operating system commands if the database server is misconfigured.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) when handling user-supplied data in the user_id parameter. The application directly concatenates user input into SQL query strings, creating an injection point that attackers can exploit to manipulate the query logic.

Attack Vector

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /user_customer_create_order.php endpoint, injecting SQL payloads through the user_id parameter. The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, allowing attackers to exploit it directly. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation attempts.

SQL injection attacks typically involve appending or modifying SQL statements using special characters and SQL syntax. Attackers may use techniques such as UNION-based injection to extract data from other tables, Boolean-based blind injection to infer data through application responses, or time-based blind injection when direct output is not available. For detailed technical information, refer to the GitHub CVE Issue and VulDB entry #312635.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6160

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs indicating syntax errors or unexpected query behavior
• HTTP requests to /user_customer_create_order.php containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, OR 1=1, or encoded variants
• Database query logs showing anomalous queries with injection patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Unexpected database modifications or data exfiltration patterns in audit logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting the user_id parameter and common injection patterns
• Implement application-level logging to capture and analyze requests to /user_customer_create_order.php
• Configure database query logging to detect anomalous SQL statements and unauthorized access attempts
• Use SentinelOne Singularity Platform to monitor for suspicious process behavior and network connections originating from web application servers

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all HTTP requests to sensitive PHP endpoints, particularly those handling user input
• Monitor database server performance metrics for unusual activity that may indicate data exfiltration
• Set up alerts for multiple failed authentication attempts or unusual access patterns that may indicate SQL injection exploitation
• Review web server access logs for requests containing encoded characters or SQL injection payloads

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6160

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /user_customer_create_order.php endpoint using firewall rules or access control lists
• Implement input validation to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the user_id parameter
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules as an interim measure
• Review database user permissions and apply the principle of least privilege to limit potential damage from exploitation

Patch Information

As of the last modification date (2025-06-26), no official patch has been released by SourceCodester for this vulnerability. Organizations using the affected software should monitor the SourceCodester website for security updates. Until a patch is available, implementing the workarounds and mitigations described below is strongly recommended.

Workarounds

• Modify the user_customer_create_order.php file to use prepared statements with parameterized queries instead of string concatenation
• Implement server-side input validation to sanitize the user_id parameter and reject non-numeric input
• Restrict access to the affected endpoint to authenticated users from trusted networks only
• Consider taking the affected application offline if it contains sensitive data and cannot be adequately protected

# Example: Block access to vulnerable endpoint using Apache .htaccess
# Add to .htaccess in the application root directory
<Files "user_customer_create_order.php">
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    # Allow only from trusted internal network
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>